EXETER CITY 1
Ray Pratt 
ORIENT 1
Kevin Godfrey

Exeter City: Shaw, Harrower, Viney, McNichol, Impey, Marker, Ling, Jackson, Kellow, Pratt, Crawford. Sub King (on for Kellow 44 minutes).

Orient: Wells, Hales, Dickinson, Sussex, Sitton, Cor- bett, Foster, Cornwell, Shinners, Godfrey, Jones. Sub Castle (on for Sitton 84 minutes). 

Attendance: 2,057.

Match Report by Trina Lake. 

A DRAMATIC last gasp equallser from Ray Pratt learned Exeter City the point they more than deserved from Saturday's enterprising performance against Fourth Division pace-setters Orient at St James's Park. Pratt's scrambled 85th minute goal, his first in the league this season cancelled out Kevin Godfrey's against - the run of play strike for Orient in the 73rd minute. But the Welsh striker, City's top scorer for the last two seasons, could hardly raise a smile after rescuing his side from defeat. He is playing with a badly pulled thigh muscle that restricts his movement quite severely and took no pleasure from playing a role for long passenger role periods against Orient. "I would rather pack it in than play like that again. If that is all I can do I might as well give up," he said. "I got 20 goals last season and I should be on top of the world and excited about every game. But I've picked up so many niggling injuries after my long lay-off at the end of last season that it's hard to get my game going," he admitted. "My No 1 priority is to get fully fit. I've had a night- mare today and I know it. I want to contribute to the game and I'm one of the quickest players at the club but I can't get going with this present injury.

"If people think I don't want to get involved they are absolutely wrong. It really hurts to hear people shout- ing from the stand that I'm terrible especially when some of them are, the same people who were patting me on the back last season and making me Player of the Year. "I've scored today. I know it wasn't a classic goal but I was in the right place at the right time and perhaps that will give me the confidence I need," he said. The whole City team should get a lift from a display that would have beaten Orient, but for some superb goalkeeping from Peter Wells. There was no sign of a hangover from the midweek Milk Cup bashing at Aston Villa as they set about the visitors from the start. Martin Ling turned in another glittering performance of the kind that the big clubs must take notice of sooner or later. He was a constant threat to Orient, combining well with the wily Tony Kellow. Even after Kellow had to be helped off in the 41st minute with a hamstring injury and Phil King came on up front reshaped City were still the better side. With confidence from a sound defence, Jim McNichol slotting in very effectively at right back for the injured Graeme Kirkup, a busy midfield, and an eager attack, City pushed forward from the start. Pratt had a near post shot blocked in the fourth minute and Gary Jackson one rasping sixth minute shot brilliantly tipped over by Wells, and a curler that went over the bar two minutes later. City goalkeeper John Shaw had little to do in stark contrast to Wednesday night at Villa Park. He was equal to his biggest test of the afternoon in the 21st minute. Kevin Hales swung over a free kick from the left and former Tottenham striker Chris Jones sent a glancing header towards the corner of the net but Shaw somehow got down in time to turn the ball out for a corner. City could well have taken the lead six minutes later when danger man Ling turned full back Kevin Dickinson inside out before driving a low shot which Wells could only parry but Kellow failed to accept a golden chance from the rebound. The canny Cornishman pulled his hamstring trying to capitalise on a neat Pratt flick just before half time.

In Kellow's absence, young Ling took on the dominant striking role. He headed wide seconds before half time and crashed a shot just over the bar soon after the restart. Neither side showed any desperate urgency at the start of the second half but City were still in command and Wells was again called into action in the 61st minute as Ling stole in for another goal attempt. Orient, who had Colin Foster booked for a foul on Pratt, were hardly living up to their free scoring reputation. For a side packed with giants they took little advantage of their superiority in height in every department. They eventually broke the deadlock thanks to some sloppy defensive work by City. Paul Shinners was on the ground surrounded by three defenders but still managed to squeeze the ball through to Godfrey who tucked it away from four yards. The goal sparked off a tremendous onslaught from City in a frantic finale. Jackson curled a shot just beyond the angle of post and crossbar, Ling went on a tremendous run before feeding King who unleashed a cracking left foot shot that Wells saved brilliantly, and they finally levelled with Orient in some disarray as skipper John Sitton was car- ried off with a leg injury. King fizzed in a shot from Ling's corner, the ball cannoned off a defender and there was Pratt to force the ball in from close range. City almost snatched an 86th minute winner and nobody could say they didn't deserve it. King's cross beat Wells but Pat Corbett just headed clear from Ling. "I give them 100 per cent for effort and determination today," said manager Colin Appleton. "It's a performance we can improve on but at least we picked up a point after conceding a very disappointing goal," he added.